BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced that 54-year-old Brandon Taro of Meridian was convicted of three counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child by Possessing Sexually Exploitative Material (Child Pornography), punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
In September 2024, the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit received a CyberTip that an online account, later identified as belonging to Taro, was being used to view and exchange Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), also known as Child Pornography, with other online users.
Investigator Lauren Lane obtained account information from the electronic service provider (ESP) of the CyberTip, which identified Taro as the account’s owner through digital identifiers and photographs. After obtaining search warrants, officers searched Taro’s home and digital devices.
Forensic examiners from the Office of the Attorney General located multiple files of CSAM and chat logs showing conversations fantasizing about having sexual contact with minor children.
Many of these CSAM files depicted minor children, predominantly females, as young as approximately six years old, and some depicted children engaged in violent sex acts with adults.
Taro was sentenced on May 28, 2025, by Ada County District Judge Nancy Baskin. Judge Baskin imposed a sentence of 20 years with 2.5 years fixed and 17.5 years indeterminate. Taro will have to register as a sex offender under Idaho law.